"What are we supposed to do now?"
Back upstairs, the world felt romantically small. They stood by the window watching the storm rage—a violent, unyielding darkness swallowing everything beyond the glass. The night stretched ahead, heavy with six years of unspoken words and confessions they'd been too afraid to breathe out loud.
The realization that they were truly trapped, with no escape and no interruptions, sent a shiver down Devin's spine. It was equal parts terror and a buried, aching hope he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years.
They settled in cautiously, maintaining a distance like a negotiated border. Devin sank into the couch while Allison took the armchair—far enough to keep a semblance of control, yet close enough that the magnetic pull between them was undeniable.
"Well, I guess we're stuck," Devin said, his voice low. "I can't get you home safely in this. Your parents must be worried sick." He paused, snapping his fingers. "The landline! We can call them."
"No—please don't," Allison said, her face falling as quickly as it had lit up.
"Why? Aren't you worried?"
"I am. But if they hear my voice, they'll try to rush here. I can't have them driving in this mess. I won't risk them for a phone call."
Devin's expression softened. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she said, her eyes locking onto his. "After this storm, and whatever storm comes tomorrow... we'll survive. Promise."
Devin smiled, breathless. "Okay. You got me, Lisa."
The name felt heavy and nostalgic—a memento from their brief time as 'strangers' on the beach. The memory broke the tension like a door swinging open, and they both shared a genuine laugh.
"I'm so embarrassed, oh gosh," Allison laughed, hiding her face in her hands. "It's all Anna's fault."
"I have to say, she's a little psycho," Devin teased.
"Hey! She's a genius," Allison defended, grinning behind her fingers. "You should commend her for what she pulled off."
"I can't. She ruined my peace of mind with that plan."
"It was actually my idea," Allison admitted softly, lowering her hands. "I just... learned the tactics from her."
They shared a laugh that served as a bridge across the gap between the couches—an excuse to steal glances and see how time had changed them.
They had aged in ways that went beyond the physical; seeing the person you once loved transformed into someone new, yet fundamentally the same, was intimidating.
"The funniest thing is how fast they fell," Devin said, shaking his head. "Sam and Anna. I've never seen him like this."
"I know her," Allison countered with a knowing smile. "She's always been drawn to the... gangster type. She loves the adrenaline. She's chaotic, but underneath, she's amazing."
"Poor Sam," Devin joked, though his gaze lingered on her a second too long. "He's completely invested. But I see it. She has this light when she's happy."
"It's funny how things work out," Allison mused, her gaze drifting back to the storm. "But who really knows what's going to happen?"
"Yeah," Devin whispered. "Who knows?"
The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was full of possibility, weighted with a childhood promise that the adults were still keeping.
Meanwhile, miles away...
Sam's phone rang relentlessly. On the tenth attempt, Anna finally picked up.
"Anna... finally," Sam breathed. "How is it?"
"She isn't back," Anna's voice was thin and fragile. "Devin found her—I think—but she isn't home."
"Are you crying, baby?"
"I'm just so worried. What if—"
"Stop," Sam said firmly. "Trust me. Devin has told me more about her than his own life. His entire world revolves around her. He will not let anything happen. He won't."
Anna curled up on her bed, her voice small. She didn't care if the Ainsleys blamed her or if she faced the consequences alone. She would take every bit of guilt, as long as the storm brought Allison back whole.
The Morning After
The sun rose over a clear blue sky, revealing a landscape of wreckage. Along the coast, uprooted trees lay like fallen giants, and the town was a graveyard of shattered glass.
But one structure stood untouched: The Glass House. Not a single scratch.
When Allison and Devin finally reached the Ainsley mansion, the atmosphere inside was electric with a different kind of storm. The phone rang in tandem with the gate bell. Alex Ainsley answered the phone, his face instantly hardening into disappointment.
"Mrs. Hollingsworth? I didn't expect a call this early."
"We're not coming, Alex," the voice crackled back. "My son heard about your daughter's imprudence. Running away with a low-level man... such a shame."
"What? Imprudence!" Alex bellowed.
"Relax, Alex. You know rumors spread like wildfire, no matter how you hide them."
Alex dropped the receiver while she was still speaking. At that exact moment, the front doors creaked open.
Devin stepped inside to face him.
The cold click of a gun being cocked echoed through the foyer.